However, at higher altitude, the tundra vegetation is found and major species are mosses and lichens.

At a higher altitude, the southern mountain forests largely belong to the temperate type, which are locally known as ‘Sholas’ in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills. Some of the trees of economic significance include magnolia, laurel, cinchona, and wattle.

Littoral and Swamp Forests

India is rich in Littoral and Swamp Forests.

Chilika Lake (in Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (in Bharatpur, Rajasthan) are protected as water-fowl habitats under the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance (i.e. Ramsar Convention).

Mangrove grows along the coasts in the salt marshes, tidal creeks, mud flats, and estuaries; and, it has a number of salt-tolerant species of plants.

In India, the mangrove forests spread over 6,740 sq. km, which is 7% of the world’s mangrove forests

Mangroves are largely found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Sunderbans of West Bengal.